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John Names 32-Man Squad For 6 Nations

Head coach of Scotland under-20s, Eamon John, today announced the first training squad of the 2008/2009 season leading up to the 2009 6 Nations.

Head coach of Scotland under-20s, Eamon John, today announced the first training squad of the 2008/2009 season leading up to the 2009 6 Nations.

The entire U19s squad that defeated Italy (32-10) in February earlier this year have been invited back to trial for the opportunity to prolong their age-grade careers. A further seven new faces make up the 32 strong age-grade squad who will all now be monitored closely by the national management and performance development teams from now until the squad camp on 16 December and thereafter.

John said, said: "The important thing for these players is the opportunity to work with the new management and put their hands up and promote themselves. The acceleration of the abilities of age-grade sides progress rapidly through the 18s, 19s and 20s so we need to get our preparation right in order to combat that.

“It's up to the management to get the preparation and the mind set of these players right. We have to train the way we want to play and we have to prepare ourselves off the field in terms how we communicate our intentions and ambitions. We have to perform in the 6 Nations, if we can do that then we’ll be competitive and when you’re competitive anything can happen."

The initial U20 training squad will now begin preparations for 2009 Six Nations with a schedule of squad sessions leading up to the matches against the Edinburgh and Glasgow back-up in January which precedes the selection of the 22 man 6 Nations squad.

Opportunities are still available for anyone who has not received an invite to the first session to gain entry to the squad as the squad is continually assessed with selections ongoing right up until the 2009 6 Nations.